IB Asso hours
Incoming domestic student at a T15 (non-core IB). While consulting was my original post-MBA goal—and a key reason I chose my program over a M7 IB-core offer—I've recently come to realize that IB might actually be a better fit and higher chance to recruit, given my finance background.
I understand norms vary by group, but at the associate level post-COVID, is it generally more acceptable to leave the office around 6–9pm and log back in from home? I have a partner (no kids yet) and am hoping to find a rhythm where I can at least be present for a few hours each evening.
In-office culture is more relaxed (even with recent RTO policies) than pre-COVID. In my pre-COVID days, almost everyone VP and below left the office after 9/10pm... now you see associates+ leave between 6-7pm and put in a couple hours at home.
Ultimately, it is group dependent. For your first 6-12 months as a MBA associate, you should benchmark being in the office until 9/10pm Mon-Thurs. You'll need to get your reps in.
thanks! absolutely- don't want to be those hands-off asso until I can confidently do the tasks I delegate
Regarding leaving the office between 6-9 PM as an associate: based on my experience, an associate's hours are often only moderately better than an analyst's. You are still expected to be 'online' and available virtually 24/7.
However, the ability to leave the office somewhat earlier on some nights and log back in from home to continue working (especially reviewing your team's output) has become more feasible. The book "Crack the Street" notes, "With a strong, reliable analyst team, you might find yourself able to leave the office by 8:00 p.m. on some nights, reviewing their work remotely".
The key factors influencing this flexibility include:
So, yes, the scenario you described—being present at home for a few hours in the evening by leaving the office between 6-9 PM and logging back on—is possible on some nights. But it's highly contingent on the factors above and shouldn't be expected as the norm, especially when you're new to the role or during busy periods. The expectation for associates is still to be highly available and responsible for the work product, regardless of location. The book describes the VP years as the "arbitrage years" where you have more leverage, which comes after the demanding associate stint.
Given you're coming from a non-core IB program and making a career switch, your initial focus will be on proving yourself, mastering the associate role, and building strong relationships with your team, which often requires significant dedication and presence as you get up to speed.
Good luck with your MBA and the recruiting process!
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nice chat GPT output my man, mega insightful
Trust is the biggest thing that affects every level. MD trusts VP who leaves early. VP trusts me so I leave not too long after. I trust analysts and they stay and work together unless they have a personal reason not to but not forcing them.
It will be important to minimize commuting time as well. I still live walking distance and don’t see that changing
Varies significantly by bank. You should only consider non-GS/MS BBs if you actually want some time for yourself.
don't do banking, do consulting
bump
I'm an A2A associate and I typically leave the office around 6-7pm, get a workout in, and then finish up from home (however late that may be). My MDs/Ds/VPs are all usually out of the office by 6pm. But want to caveat that I'm able to leave earlier because my team trusts me to get my work done at home, and I'm efficient after grinding out the analyst years.
In my opinion, as an MBA associate you should really treat yourself like a first year analyst during your first 6-12 months as you get ramped up and learn to be efficient. Nobody is going to like working with you if you leave early and don't take the time to build up your skills. You should worry about leaving earlier after you've gotten comfortable with the work and after building up reputation within your team. Leaving between 6-9pm is definitely doable as an associate, but less realistic for a fresh MBA hire.
What is a "partner?" You mean boyfriend/girlfriend?
Partner is typically some dudes boyfriend
Ayo sus
A2A here at a US BB, ranked in the top quartile over the past few years.
Find that I am still working 75-85hrs a week, but with a lot more control. I wake up early, work out, come into the office at ~9am, leave at ~7pm to have dinner and watch some TV at home, then continue with work till I sleep at ~12/1am. There will be periods where I don’t log on when I get home, but there will equally be periods where I do nothing but work from 9-3am on a daily basis.
I’m personally fine with the way things are — I enjoy the work and see a future in the job, so that increases the pain threshold. Besides, can’t think of many other gigs whereby I can have this level of flexibility and earn this much (not to mention the earnings upside) at this age without taking entrepreneurial risk.
What was your reason for staying on A2A vs leaving for PE?
When looking at the traits required to be a successful senior banker vs senior PE professional (vs HF PM) I think my skill set and interest marries up best with the former. That alignment helpfully makes things a bit more enjoyable and less of a grind.
Bump!
If this is the question you are asking, you should not do it.
why not? How often you hit 70 vs 80 vs 90 hrs makes a big difference, and firms know that the higher that number goes the more top candidates they lose to other fields like tech.
In my group, associates can leave the office and log on from home any time in the evening when feasible (no arbitrary 7 PM rule or anything), but tend to work until midnight or past midnight every day M-Th of the week whether office or home. There’s an hour for a workout in there but overall grinding like an analyst.
I’ve just assumed it’s standard for associate to be working 80+ hours a week? I’ll still spend substantial time modeling and making associated pages especially on live deals. Of course in less pressure less complex staffings I just review, but when things get intense I’m still having to plug in and create work product basically just as a super-analyst.
Basically I’ve found that on the best of days yeah as an associate you’re just reviewing, but standard expectation when shit hits the fan (and in IB shit is always hitting the fan) is that you’re just a highly paid analyst that knows what they’re doing. Honestly the analysts seem to be having a better time because less responsibility and easier work. Is my experience some weird, toxic exception or is this the reality of being an IB Associate?
How technical is your coverage group/ is it an EB or MM? I’m in a niche / technical coverage and that’s how it is here. I’d assume better hours for ASOs at BBs in less technical groups
Same here. Can’t really trust the analysts to do it right a lot of the time when it’s critical and time sensitive work. Some staffings and pitches are also lean and I do it all back to front with the help of India outsource team.
On the plus side as an assoc I have more trust and work more closely with my D/MD - but definitely not in a delegation position that a lot of ppl say is typical for being an associate
On live deals noticibly more client facing
What time do you usually get off on Fridays? Also I am assuming you work from home on Sundays?
Senior associate. My hours aren’t much better than the analysts’ because I’m usually working alongside and even if they’re running with it I have to review it before it goes out.
If it isn’t time sensitive and I don’t need to review that night then I’ll go to bed but my hours aren’t much better.
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